Master Lease Agreement
Lessor: SPAR Marketing Services,
Inc.
Lessee: SPAR Marketing
Force, Inc.
Address: 580 White Plains Road
Address: 1791 Harmon Road
Tarrytown, NY 10591
Auburn Hills, MI 48326
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF LEASE
The undersigned Lessee hereby requests Lessor to
purchase the personal property
described in any Equipment
Schedule hereunder
(herein called
"Equipment") from
the supplier(s) listed in any Equipment Schedule hereunder (herein called
"Vendor" and/or "Manufacturer", as applicable) and to lease the Equipment
to
Lessee on the terms and
conditions of the lease set forth below.
Lessor hereby leases to Lessee, and Lessee hereby leases from Lessor, the
Equipment, all upon the terms and
provisions and subject
to the conditions set
forth in this Master Lease
Agreement (as the same may be supplemented, modified,
amended, restated or replaced from time to
time in the manner provided herein,
this "Lease").
In consideration of the foregoing, the mutual covenants and agreements
hereinafter set forth,
and other good and
valuable consideration
(the
receipt
and adequacy of which is
hereby acknowledged by the parties), the parties hereto
hereby agree as
follows:
1. NO
WARRANTIES BY LESSOR. Lessee has selected the Equipment and may
have
entered into certain
purchase, licensing,
or maintenance
agreements
with the Vendor and/or Manufacturer (herein referred to as an
"Acquisition Agreement") covering the Equipment as further
described in
Paragraph 25
hereof. If Lessee has entered into any Acquisition
Agreement, each
agreement shall provide for certain rights and
obligations of the
party thereto with
respect to the
Equipment,
and
Lessee shall
perform all of the obligations set forth in each
Acquisition Agreement
as if this Lease did not exist. LESSOR MAKES NO
WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, AS TO ANY
MATTER WHATSOEVER,
INCLUDING
THE CONDITION OF THE EQUIPMENT, ITS MERCHANTABILITY OR ITS FITNESSES
FOR ANY PARTICULAR
PURPOSE, AND, AS TO LESSOR, LESSEE LEASES THE
EQUIPMENT "AS IS" AND
"WHERE IS". LESSOR
SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR
ANY LOSS, DAMAGE OR
EXPENSE OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER RELATING THERETO,
INCLUDING (WITHOUT
LIMITATION) ANY
SPECIAL, INDIRECT,
INCIDENTAL
OR
CONSQUENTIAL DAMAGES
OF ANY CHARACTER.
2.
CLAIMS AGAINST
VENDOR AND/OR MANUFACTURER. If the Equipment is not
properly installed,
does not operate as
represented
or warranted
by
Vendor and/or Manufacturer, or is unsatisfactory for any reason,
Lessee
shall make any claim on account thereof solely against Vendor and/or
Manufacturer pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement, if any, and shall,
nevertheless, pay
Lessor all rent payable under this Lease. All
warranties from Vendor and/or Manufacturer are, to the extent
they are
assignable, hereby
assigned to Lessee for the term of this Lease
or
until an Event of Default occurs hereunder, for Lessee's exercise at
Lessee's expense.
Lessee may
directly inquire with Vendor and/or
Manufacturer to
receive an accurate
and complete
statement of such
warranties, including any disclaimers or limitations of such
warranties
or of any remedies with respect thereto.
3.
VENDOR NOT AN AGENT. Lessee understands and agrees that neither
Vendor,
nor any sales
representative or
other agent of Vendor, is an agent of
Lessor. Sales representatives or agents of Vendor, and persons that
are
not employed
by Lessor (including brokers and agents) are not
authorized to waive or
alter any term or condition of this Lease, and
no representation as
to the Equipment or any other matter by Vendor or
any other person that is not employed by Lessor (including brokers or
agents) shall
in any way
affect Lessee's duty to pay the rent and
perform its other obligations as set forth in this
Lease.
4.
NON-CANCELLABLE LEASE.
This Lease and any
Equipment Schedule
hereto
cannot be cancelled or terminated except as expressly provided herein.
Lessee agrees
that its obligation to pay all rent and other sums
payable hereunder
and the rights of Lessor in and to such rent
are
absolute and
unconditional
and are not subject to any abatement,
reduction, setoff,
defense, counterclaim
or recoupment due or alleged
to be due to, or by reason of, any past, present or future claims
which
Lessee may have against Lessor, any assignee, any Manufacturer or
Vendor, or against any person for any reason whatsoever.
5.
ORDERING EQUIPMENT.
Lessee shall arrange for delivery of the Equipment
so that it can be accepted in accordance with Paragraph 6 hereof
within
90 days after the date on which Lessor accepts Lessee's offer to enter
into this Lease with respect to any Equipment Schedule or by such
other
date as may be set forth in
<PAGE>
an Equipment
Schedule or Approval Letter issued by Lessor as the
Approval Expiration
Date. Unless otherwise
specified on the Equipment
Schedule, Lessee shall be responsible for all transportation,
packing,
installation,
testing and
other charges in connection with the
delivery,
installation and
use of the Equipment. Lessee hereby
authorizes Lessor to
insert in any
Equipment Schedule
hereunder
the
serial numbers
and other identification data of Equipment when
determined by Lessor.
6.
ACCEPTANCE. Lessee
acknowledges
that for purposes of receiving or
accepting the
Equipment from Vendor, Lessee is acting on Lessor's
behalf. Upon
delivery of the Equipment to Lessee and Lessee's
inspection thereof, Lessee shall furnish Lessor a written statement
(a)
acknowledging receipt of the Equipment in good condition and repair
and
(b) accepting it as
satisfactory
in all respects for
the purposes of
this Lease (the
"Certificate of
Acceptance").
Unless otherwise set
forth in the applicable Equipment Schedule, the first day of the
month
following receipt
and acceptance of the Equipment covered by an
Equipment Schedule
shall be the Rent Commencement Date therefor.
However, should
Lessee have a previous lease with Lessor which is
active at the time of acceptance of the Equipment under the Equipment
Schedule and said lease and the current Equipment Schedule hereunder
shall have the same
invoice address then
the Rent Commencement
Date
shall occur in the month immediately following acceptance of the
Equipment on the rent payment due date established with Lessee for
said
previous active lease. Lessor is authorized to fill in on any
Equipment
Schedule hereunder the
Rent Commencement
Date in accordance
with the
foregoing.
7.
TERMINATION BY
LESSOR. If, by the Approval Expiration Date, the
Equipment described in any Equipment Schedule has not been
delivered to
Lessee and accepted by Lessee as provided in Paragraph 6 hereof,
or if
other conditions of
Lessor's Approval
Letter, if any, have not been
met, then Lessor may, at its option, terminate this Lease and its
obligations hereunder
with respect to such
Equipment Schedule at
any
time after
the expiration of such 90 days or any date after the
Approval Expiration
Date, as applicable. Lessor shall give Lessee
written notice whether
or not it elects to exercise such option within
10 days after Lessor's
receipt of Lessee's
written request for such
notice.
8.
TERM. The term of this
Lease shall be comprised of an Interim Term and
an Initial
Term. The Interim Term shall commence on the date the
Certificate of Acceptance is executed by Lessee (the "Acceptance
Date")
and terminate on the Rent Commencement Date. The Initial Term of
this
Lease shall begin on the Rent Commencement Date, and shall
terminate on
the later of (i) the last day of the last month of the Initial Term
(as
that Term is set forth in the applicable Equipment Schedule hereto)
or
(ii) the date Lessee fulfills all Lessee's obligations
hereunder.
9.
RENTAL. The rental amount payable to Lessor by Lessee for the
Equipment
will be set forth in the Equipment Schedule(s) ("Rental Amount). As
the
first rent
payment for the Equipment, Lessee shall pay Lessor in
immediately available
funds on the Rent
Commencement Date the sum of,
(i) the Rental Amount,
and (ii) Interim Rent in an amount equal to
1/3Oth of the Rental Amount times the number of days from and
including
the Acceptance Date through but excluding the Rent Commencement Date,
and subsequent
rent payments shall be due on the same day of each
calendar period as indicated on the Equipment Schedule for the
balance
of the Initial Term.
Rent payments shall be
due whether or not Lessee
has received any notice that such payments are due. All rent
payments
shall be paid to Lessor at its address set forth above or as
otherwise
directed by Lessor in writing.
10. RENEWAL If
no default shall have
occurred and be
continuing,
Lessee
shall be entitled to renew this Lease with respect to all, but not
less
than all, of the
Equipment covered by an Equipment Schedule for a
minimum 12 month
period at an amount
equal to the fair
market
rental
value thereof, in use
and operational,
in the condition
required by
this Lease, payable on
a periodic basis, as
mutually agreed by Lessor
and Lessee ("Renewal
Rent). Lessee must
give Lessor written notice of
its intention to exercise said option, which notice must be
received by
Lessor at least 90 days before expiration of the Initial Term. The
first installment of the Renewal Rent shall be due at expiration of
the
Initial Term of this
Lease. Should Lessee fail to comply with the
provisions described
above covering
renewal, upon expiration of the
Initial Term, the term
of this Lease shall be
automatically
extended
for a term of 3
months. Thereafter,
the term of this
Lease will be
extended for subsequent full month periods, on a month to month
basis,
until Lessee has given at least 90 days written notice terminating
this
Lease. Such
termination
will take effect upon completion of all
Lessee's obligations
under this Lease (including payment of all
periodic rental payments due during such 90 day period,
as provided
in
Paragraph 9 of this
Lease). At any time
after the expiration
of the
Initial Term,
if this Lease has been
automatically
extended as set
forth herein, Lessor
reserves the right to
terminate this Lease by 30
days written
notice to Lessee.
11. LOCATION;
INSPECTION;
LABELS. The Equipment
shall be delivered to and
shall not be removed
without Lessor's prior
written consent from
the
"Equipment Location"
shown on the related
Equipment Schedule,
or if
none is specified,
Lessee's billing address shown above. Lessor shall
have the right to inspect the Equipment at any reasonable time. If
Lessor supplies Lessee
with labels stating that the Equipment is owned
by Lessor,
Lessee shall affix such labels to and keep them in a
prominent place on the Equipment.
<PAGE>
12. REPAIRS;
USE; ALTERATIONS.
Lessee, at its own cost and expense, shall
keep the Equipment
in good repair and working order, in the same
condition as when
delivered to Lessee, reasonable wear and tear
excepted, and
in accordance with the manufacturer's recommended
specifications; shall
use the Equipment lawfully; shall not alter the
Equipment without
Lessor's prior written consent, shall use the
Equipment in compliance with any existing Manufacturer's service and
warranty requirements
and any insurance policies applicable to the
Equipment and shall furnish all parts and servicing required therefor.
All parts, repairs, additions, alterations and attachments placed
on or
incorporated into the
Equipment which cannot be removed without damage
to the Equipment
shall immediately become part of the Equipment
and
shall be the property
of the Lessor. Lessee
will obtain and
maintain
all permits, licenses
and registrations
necessary to lawfully operate
the facility where the
Equipment is located.
Lessee shall comply with
all applicable
environ- mental and industrial hygiene laws, rules and
regulations (including
but not limited to
federal, state,
and local
environmental
protection,
occupational, health
and safety or similar
laws, ordinances and restrictions). Lessee shall, not later than 5
days
after the occurrence, provide Lessor with copies of any report
required
to be filed with governmental agencies regulating environmental
claims.
Lessee shall
immediately
notify Lessor in writing of any
existing,
pending or threatened
investigation,
inquiry, claim or
action by any
governmental authority
in connection with any
law, rule or regulation
relating to industrial
hygiene or environmental conditions that could
affect the Equipment.
13.
MAINTENANCE. If the
Equipment is such that Lessee is not normally
capable of maintaining it, Lessee, at its expense, shall enter into
and
maintain in full force and effect throughout the Initial Term and
any
renewal term,
Vendor and/or Manufacturer's standard maintenance
contract, and shall
comply with all its
obligations
thereunder.
An
alternate source of maintenance may be used with Lessor's prior
written
consent. Such
consent shall be granted if, in Lessor's reasonable
opinion, the Equipment
will be maintained in an equivalent
state of
good repair, condition and working order.
14. SURRENDER.
Provided that Lessee
does not exercise the purchase option
as set forth in Paragraph 27 hereof, upon the expiration of the
Initial
Term, or any renewal
term, or upon demand by Lessor made
pursuant to
Paragraph 21 of this Lease, Lessee, at its expense,
shall return
all,
but not less than all, of the Equipment by delivering it to such
place
or on board such carrier, packed for shipping, as Lessor may specify.
Lessee agrees that the Equipment, when returned, shall be in the same
condition as when
delivered to Lessee, reasonable wear and tear
excepted, and in a
condition which will
permit Lessor to be
eligible
for Manufacturer's
standard maintenance contract without incurring any
expense to repair or
rehabilitate
such Equipment. Lessee shall be
liable for reasonable and necessary expenses to place the Equipment
in
such condition.
Lessee shall remain
liable for the
condition of
the
Equipment until
it is received and accepted at the destination
designated by Lessor as set forth above. If any items of Equipment
are
missing or damaged when returned, such occurrence shall be treated as
an event of Loss or Damage with respect to such missing or damaged
items and shall be
subject to the terms
specified in Paragraph 15
below. Lessee shall
provide Lessor with a Letter of
Maintainability
from the Manufacturer
of the Equipment,
which letter shall state that
the Equipment
will be eligible for the Manufacturer's standard
maintenance contract when sold or leased to a third party. Lessee
shall
give Lessor prior written notice that it is returning the
Equipment as
provided above, and
such notice must be received by Lessor at least 90
days prior to such
return. Should Lessee fail to comply with the
provisions described
above covering surrender, upon expiration of the
Initial Term, the term
of this Lease shall be
automatically
extended
for a term of 3
months. Thereafter,
the term of this
Lease will be
extended for subsequent full month periods, on a month to month
basis,
until Lessee has given at least 90 days written notice terminating
this
Lease. Such
termination
will take effect upon completion of all
Lessee's obligations
under this Lease (including payment of all
periodic rental payments due during such 90 day period,
as provided
in
Paragraph 9 of this
Lease). At any time
after the expiration
of the
Initial Term,
if this Lease has been
automatically
extended as set
forth herein. Lessor
reserves the right to
terminate this Lease by 30
days written notice to Lessee.
15. LOSS OR
DAMAGE. Lessee shall bear the entire risk of loss, theft,
destruction of or
damage to the Equipment or any item thereof (herein
"Loss or Damage") from
any cause whatsoever.
No Loss or Damage
shall
relieve Lessee of the obligation to pay rent or of any other
obligation
under this Lease. In the event of Loss or Damage, Lessee, at the
option
of Lessor; shall: (a)
place the same in good condition and repair; (b)
replace the same
with like equipment acceptable to Lessor in good
condition and repair with clear title thereto in Lessor;
or (c) pay
to
Lessor the total of the following amounts: (i) the total rent and
other
amounts due and owing at the time of such payment, plus (ii) an amount
calculated by Lessor
which is the present value at 5% per annum simple
interest discount of
all rent and other amounts payable by Lessee with
respect to said item from date of such payment to date of
expiration of
its Initial Term, plus (iii) the "reversionary value" of the
Equipment,
which shall be
determined by Lessor as the total cost of the Equipment
less 60% of the total rent (net of sales/use taxes, if any)
required to
be paid pursuant to Paragraph 9. Upon Lessor's receipt of such
payment,
Lessee and/or Lessee's
insurer shall be entitled to Lessor's interest
in said item, for salvage purposes, in its then condition and
location,
"as-is ", without any warranty, express or implied.
<PAGE>
16. INSURANCE.
Lessee shall provide, maintain and pay for (a) all
risk
property insurance
against the loss or theft of or damage to the
Equipment, for the
full replacement value thereof, naming Lessor as a
loss payee, and (b)
commercial
general liability insurance (and if
Lessee is a doctor;
hospital or other
health care provider,
medical
malpractice
insurance). All such
policies shall name Lessor as an
additional insured and
shall have combined
single limits in amounts
acceptable to Lessor.
All such insurance policies shall be endorsed to
be primary and
non-contributory to
any policies maintained by Lessor.
In addition
Lessee shall cause Lessor to be named as an
additional
insured on any excess or umbrella policies purchased by Lessee. A
copy
of each paid-up policy evidencing such insurance (appropriately
authenticated by the
insurer) or a certificate of the insurer providing
such coverage proving
that such policies
have been issued,
providing
the coverage required
hereunder shall be
delivered to Lessor prior to
the Rent Commencement Date. All insurance shall be placed with
companies satisfactory
to Lessor and shall contain the insurer's
agreement to give 30 days written notice to Lessor before
cancellation
or any material change of any policy of insurance.
17. TAXES.
Lessee shall
reimburse to Lessor
(or pay directly if, but only
if, instructed
by Lessor)
all charges
and taxes (local, State and
federal) which may now or hereafter be imposed or levied upon the
sale,
purchase, ownership,
leasing, possession or use of the Equipment;
excluding, however;
all income taxes levied on (a) any rental payments
made to Lessor hereunder; (b) any payment made to Lessor in
connection
with Loss or Damage to the Equipment under Paragraph 15 hereof,
or (c)
any payment made to Lessor in connection with Lessee's exercise of its
purchase option under Paragraph 27 hereof.
18. LESSOR'S
PAYMENT. If Lessee fails to provide or maintain said
insurance, to pay said
taxes, charges and
fees, or to discharge
any
levies, liens and encumbrances created by Lessee, Lessor shall have
the
right, but shall not be obligated, to obtain such insurance,
pay such
taxes, charges
and fees, or effect such discharge. In that event,
Lessee shall
remit to Lessor the cost thereof with the next rent
payment.
19. INDEMNITY.
(a) General Indemnity. Lessee shall indemnify Lessor
against
and hold Lessor
harmless from any and
all claims, actions,
damages,
costs, expenses
including reasonable attorneys' fees, obligations,
liabilities and
liens (including any of the foregoing arising or
imposed under
the doctrines of "strict liability" or "product
liability" and
including without limitation the cost of any fines,
remedial action, damage to the environment and cleanup and the fees
and
costs of consultants
and experts), arising out of the manufacture,
purchase, lease, ownership, possession, operation, condition,
return or
use of the Equipment, or by operation of law, excluding however,
any of
the foregoing
resulting from the gross negligence or willful
misconduct
of Lessor. Lessee
agrees that upon written notice by Lessor of the
assertion of such a claim, action, damage, obligation, liability or
lien, Lessee shall assume full responsibility for the defense
thereof.
Lessee's choice of counsel shall be mutually acceptable to both
Lessee
and Lessor. This
indemnity also extends
to any environmental
claims
arising out of or
relating to prior acts or omissions of any party
whatsoever. The
provisions of this paragraph shall survive termination
of this Lease with respect to events occurring prior to such
termination.
(b) Tax
Indemnity.
Lessee acknowledges that Lessor shall be
entitled to all tax benefits of ownership with respect to the
Equipment (the "Tax Benefits"), including but not limited
to,
(i) the accelerated
cost recovery
deductions
determined
in
accordance with Section 168(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue
Code
of 1986 for the
Equipment based on the
original cost of
the
Equipment to
Lessor (ii) deductions for interest on any
indebtedness incurred
by Lessor to finance the Equipment and
(iii) sourcing
of income and losses attributable to this
Lease, to the
United States. Lessee represents that the
Equipment shall
be depreciable for Federal tax purposes
utilizing the
MACRS Recovery Period as set forth in the
Equipment Schedule,
with such depreciation
commencing as
of
the date of Equipment acceptance by Lessee as set forth on
the
Certificate of
Acceptance.
Lessee agrees to take no
action
inconsistent with the
foregoing or any action which would
result in the loss,
disallowance or
unavailability to Lessor
of all or any part of the Tax Benefits. Lessee hereby
indemnifies and holds harmless Lessor and its assigns from
and
against (i)
the loss, disallowance, unavailability or
recapture of all or
any part of the Tax
Benefits resulting
from any action,
statement,
misrepresentation
or breach
of
warranty or
covenant by Lessee of any nature whatsoever
including but
not limited to the breach of any
representations,
warranties or
covenants contained in this
paragraph, plus
(ii) all interest, penalties, fines or
additions to tax
resulting from such loss, disallowance,
unavailability or recapture, plus (iii) all taxes required
to
be paid by Lessor upon receipt of the indemnity set forth in
this paragraph.
Any payments made by Lessee to reimburse
Lessor for lost Tax Benefits shall be calculated (i) on the
assumption that
Lessor is subject to the maximum Federal
Corporate Income
Tax with respect to each year and that
all
Tax Benefits are currently utilized, and (ii) without regard
to whether Lessor or
any members of a
consolidated group
of
which Lessor is also a
member is then subject to any increase
in tax as a result
of the loss of Tax Benefits. For the
purposes of this
paragraph,
"Lessor" includes for all tax
purposes
the consolidated
taxpayer group of which Lessor is a
part.
<PAGE>
(c) Payment.
The amounts
payable pursuant to this Paragraph 19
shall be payable
upon demand of Lessor, accompanied by a
statement describing
in reasonable detail such claim, action,
damage, cost, expense, fee, obligation, liability, lien or
tax
and setting forth the
computation
of the amount so
payable,
which computation shall be binding and conclusive upon
Lessee,
absent manifest
error. The indemnities and assumptions of
liabilities and
obligations
contained in this
Paragraph
19
shall continue in full
force and effect
notwithstanding
the
expiration or other termination of this Lease.
20. DELINQUENT
PAYMENTS. (a) Service
Charge. Since it would be impractical
or extremely difficult
to fix Lessor's actual
damages for
collecting
and accounting for a
late payment, if any
payment to Lessor
required
herein (including, but
not limited to, rental, renewal, tax, purchase
and other amounts) is not paid on or before its due date,
Lessee
shall
pay to Lessor
an amount equal to 5% of any such
late payment. (b)
Interest. Lessee shall
also pay interest on any such late payment from
the due date thereof
until the date paid at
the littlest
of 18% per
annum or the maximum rate allowed by law.
21. DEFAULT;
REMEDIES. Any of the following shall
constitute an "Event of
Default" under this Lease: If (a) Lessee fails to pay when due any
rent
or other amount required herein to be paid by Lessee and such
non-payment continues
for more than seven
days after notice
thereof
from Lessor,
or (b) Lessee
makes an assignment for the benefit of
creditors, whether voluntary or involuntary, or (c) a petition is
filed
by or against
Lessee under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar
legislation, or (d)
Lessee violates or
fails to perform any provision
of either this Lease or any Acquisition Agreement, or violates or
fails
to perform any covenant or representation made by Lessee herein,
and
fails to correct the same within seven days after notice thereof from
Lessor, or (e) Lessee makes a bulk transfer of furniture,
furnishings,
fixtures or other
equipment or
inventory, or (f)
Lessee ceases doing
business as a going concern or terminates its existence,
or (g)
Lessee
consolidates with,
merges with or into, or conveys or leases all
or
substantially all of its assets as an entirety to any person or
engages
in any other form of reorganization, or there is a change in the
legal
structure of Lessee,
in each case it
results, in the opinion of the
Lessor, in a material adverse change in Lessee's ability to perform
its
obligations under this
Lease, or (h) any
representation
or warranty
made by Lessee in this
Lease or in any other
document or agreement
furnished by
Lessee to Lessor shall prove to have been false or
misleading in any
material respect when made or when deemed to
have
been made,
or (i) Lessee shall be in default under any material
obligation for the payment of borrowed money or the deferred purchase
price of, or for the payment of any rent due with respect to, any real
or personal property
and such default
continues for more than seven
days after notice
thereof from Lessor, or (j) Lessee shall be in
default under any other agreement now existing or
hereafter made
with
Lessor or any of Lessor's affiliates and such default continues for
more